Electronic image frame system

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to electronic image frames, and in particular to electronic image frames having an electronics housing portion and a detachable frame portion that is secured in place by a tab and slot mechanism.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to electronic image frames, and in particular toelectronic image frames having an electronics housing portion and adetachable frame portion that is secured in place by a tab and slotmechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic image frames, also known as digital photo frames, are knownin the art. Such devices typically consist of an electronic imagedisplay (e.g., a liquid crystal display) and its associated electronics,a power supply, a means for operating the functions of the device (e.g.,buttons), a means for acquiring and storing image content (e.g., memorycard ports, data ports, etc.), and a decorative housing containing theaforementioned components. Some electronic image frames have adetachable decorative frame that surrounds the display, allowing theattachment of different frames to match a particular style or décor.Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20070011929 toCheng, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. A disadvantageof the electronic image frames of the prior art is that they featuremultiple tab and slot mechanisms for attaching the frame to the housing.Such a configuration necessarily limits the size and stability of eachtab, increases the difficulty and dexterity needed to attach and removethe frame, and increases the overall complexity of the design of boththe housing and the frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic image frame systems havingan electronics housing portion and a detachable frame portion that issecured in place by a single tab and slot mechanism. In preferredembodiments of the present invention, the electronic image frame systemincludes a power cord. In other embodiments, the electronic image framesystem includes a data cable (e.g., Universal Serial Bus “USB” cable,IEEE 1394 “FireWire” cable, RJ-45 “Ethernet” cable, etc.) forcommunication and data transfer with a computing device. In yet otherembodiments, the electronic image frame system includes wireless datatransmission capabilities. In some embodiments, the electronic imageframe system includes a wired or wireless remote control to facilitateoperation of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A depicts an electronic image frame system in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1B depicts an electronic image frame system in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The electronic image frame systems of the present invention feature anelectronics housing portion and a detachable frame portion that issecured in place by a single tab and slot mechanism. In some embodimentsof the present invention, the tab is attached to a surface of thehousing, and is received in place by a slot in the frame. In preferredembodiments, the width of the tab comprises a substantial portion of thewidth of the surface of the housing to which it is attached. Inparticularly preferred embodiments, the width of the tab is at least 50percent of the width of the surface of the housing to which it isattached. In other embodiments, the width of the tab is between 50percent and 75 percent of the width of the surface of the housing towhich it is attached. In yet other embodiments, the width of the tab isbetween 75 percent and 100 percent of the width of the surface of thehousing to which it is attached. In some embodiments, the tab extends tomore than one surface of the housing. In other embodiments, the tab isconfigured as a unitary ridge protruding from two sides of the housing.In yet other embodiments, the tab is configured as a unitary ridgeprotruding from three sides of the housing. In some embodiments, the tabis configured as a unitary ridge extending around four sides of thehousing. The receiving slot in the frame may be size-matched to the tab.In other embodiments, the slot occupies substantially all of a side ofthe frame. In yet other embodiments, a single slot spans all four sidesof the frame.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the tab and slot mechanismis configured such that the tab is attached to a surface of the frame,and is received in place by a slot in the housing. In preferredembodiments, the width of the tab comprises a substantial portion of thewidth of the surface of the frame to which it is attached. Inparticularly preferred embodiments, the width of the tab is at least 50percent of the width of the surface of the frame to which it isattached. In other embodiments, the width of the tab is between 50percent and 75 percent of the width of the surface of the frame to whichit is attached. In yet other embodiments, the width of the tab isbetween 75 percent and 100 percent of the width of the surface of theframe to which it is attached. In some embodiments, the tab extends tomore than one surface of the frame. In other embodiments, the tab isconfigured as a unitary ridge protruding from two sides of the frame. Inyet other embodiments, the tab is configured as a unitary ridgeprotruding from three sides of the frame. In some embodiments, the tabis configured as a unitary ridge extending around four sides of theframe. The receiving slot in the housing may be size-matched to the tab.In other embodiments, the slot occupies substantially all of a side ofthe housing. In yet other embodiments, a single slot spans all foursides of the housing. Other variations are also contemplated.

FIGS. 1A & 1B depict an electronic image frame system in an embodimentof the present invention. The electronic image frame system 100comprises an electronics housing 110 and a detachable frame 120. Thehousing 110 features a tab 130 protruding from, and attached to, a sidesurface. The frame 130 features a slot 140 that is configured to receivethe tab 130. When the tab 130 is fitted into the slot 140 of the frame120, the frame is thereby securely attached to the housing 110. The tab130 is configured to have a large surface area, which aids in the secureattachment of the frame 120 to the housing 110. The housing may furthercomprise components for additional attachment points to one or moreother sides of the frame (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No.20070011929). It should be understood that the principles highlightedherein may be applied to (via modification of) a wide variety ofcommercially available electronic image devices that utilize detachableframes.

All publications and patents mentioned in the above specification areherein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variationsof the described system of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Although the invention has been described in connection withspecific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that theinvention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specificembodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes forcarrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in therelevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. An electronic image system comprising: a. an electronics housingconfigured to display an electronic image, said housing having a sideportion comprising a single tab, where said tab has a length that is atleast 50 percent of the length of the side portion of the housing onwhich it resides, and b. a frame portion configured for detachableassembly to said electronics housing, said frame portion comprising aslot configured to engage said tab so as to fix said frame portion tosaid housing.
 2. (canceled)
 3. An electronic image system comprising: a.a frame portion configured for detachable assembly to an electronicshousing, said frame portion having a side portion comprising a singletab, where said tab has a length that is at least 50 percent of thelength of the side portion of the frame on which it resides, and b. anelectronics housing configured to display an electronic image, saidhousing comprising a slot configured to engage said tab so as to fixsaid frame portion to said housing.
 4. (canceled)